Teachers prepare students for future schooling and careers by educating them on a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, reading, writing, social studies, science, foreign language, and more. Teachers are responsible for planning lessons, delivering these lessons, evaluating/grading student performance, working with individual students to overcome challenges, communicating effectively with parents, and preparing students for standardized tests.

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Salary
So how much does a teacher make? According to the May 2012 records of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual elementary school teacher salary is $56,130. Of the 1,360,380 elementary school teachers nationwide, the lowest ten percent earned $35,630 and the top ten percent brought home an average $83,160 each year. The 620,900 middle, intermediate, or junior high level teachers earn a mean annual salary of $56,280. The bottom ten percent makes $36,740, while the top ten percent earns $82,190 annually. For the 959,770 secondary or high school level teachers, the mean annual salary is slightly higher at $57,770. The lowest ten percent make $36,930 and the top ten percent are compensated with a sizeable $85,690 each year.

Industry of employment plays a prominent role in the annual salary of teachers at all levels. Teachers that hold positions as educational support only earn an average of $48,730, while those employed by state governments make an average of $59,070. Another factor that impacts salary for teachers is location. The top-paying states are New York at $74,130, Rhode Island at $69,780, and California at $69,330.

Elementary School Teachers

State

Hourly Wage

Average Salary

Number of Jobs

Alabama

–

$48,450

18,830

Alaska

–

$67,110

3,620

Arizona

–

$42,800

24,140

Arkansas

–

$44,810

12,330

California

–

$69,690

132,560

Colorado

–

$49,780

23,360

Connecticut

–

$67,070

16,150

Delaware

–

$57,620

4,780

Florida

–

$48,900

69,310

Georgia

–

$53,320

42,760

Hawaii

–

$53,490

5,910

Idaho

–

$48,130

6,900

Illinois

–

$59,270

80,580

Indiana

–

$51,670

24,180

Iowa

–

$47,640

16,010

Kansas

–

$45,400

14,000

Kentucky

–

$49,470

20,130

Louisiana

–

$48,070

12,740

Maine

–

$47,870

6,910

Maryland

–

$61,710

25,810

Massachusetts

–

$65,850

26,570

Michigan

–

$61,570

35,910

Minnesota

–

$60,230

25,780

Mississippi

–

$41,740

13,490

Missouri

–

$47,290

23,380

Montana

–

$45,650

5,190

Nebraska

–

$47,700

9,610

Nevada

–

$53,100

10,570

New Hampshire

–

$53,340

6,730

New Jersey

–

$66,240

42,310

New Mexico

–

$51,610

9,390

New York

–

$71,270

82,580

North Carolina

–

$43,140

39,770

North Dakota

–

$46,000

5,390

Ohio

–

$58,470

49,760

Oklahoma

–

$42,120

16,350

Oregon

–

$54,990

11,980

Pennsylvania

–

$57,230

57,460

Rhode Island

–

$74,310

3,730

South Carolina

–

$48,620

19,760

South Dakota

–

$39,900

3,930

Tennessee

–

$46,740

28,530

Texas

–

$50,110

150,440

Utah

–

$49,440

15,730

Vermont

–

$52,490

3,240

Virginia

–

$58,510

36,220

Washington

–

$59,390

26,160

West Virginia

–

$43,350

6,970

Wisconsin

–

$58,320

26,200

Wyoming

–

$58,680

2,810

Data courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

High School Teachers

State

Hourly Wage

Average Salary

Number of Jobs

Alabama

–

$49,500

13,350

Alaska

–

$67,990

2,470

Arizona

–

$43,420

15,040

Arkansas

–

$47,270

9,820

California

–

$69,330

90,470

Colorado

–

$51,500

15,820

Connecticut

–

$67,370

14,230

Delaware

–

$55,610

2,980

Florida

–

$51,080

40,020

Georgia

–

$53,770

22,910

Hawaii

–

$55,550

4,040

Idaho

–

$45,540

4,210

Illinois

–

$66,020

53,500

Indiana

–

$51,930

17,510

Iowa

–

$46,120

12,440

Kansas

–

$46,850

9,770

Kentucky

–

$51,090

12,340

Louisiana

–

$48,790

16,970

Maine

–

$48,530

5,330

Maryland

–

$63,180

21,010

Massachusetts

–

$66,550

22,510

Michigan

–

$60,940

22,430

Minnesota

–

$58,210

15,070

Mississippi

–

$42,710

10,610

Missouri

–

$45,810

20,480

Montana

–

$46,630

3,730

Nebraska

–

$48,540

6,860

Nevada

–

$52,730

5,840

New Hampshire

–

$53,160

5,090

New Jersey

–

$69,640

34,780

New Mexico

–

$50,780

6,030

New York

–

$74,130

66,740

North Carolina

–

$44,400

24,450

North Dakota

–

$44,780

2,850

Ohio

–

$58,590

41,250

Oklahoma

–

$44,030

12,070

Oregon

–

$54,950

8,570

Pennsylvania

–

$59,640

52,640

Rhode Island

–

$69,780

4,880

South Carolina

–

$50,370

13,120

South Dakota

–

$40,070

3,480

Tennessee

–

$48,330

18,360

Texas

–

$52,010

102,070

Utah

–

$51,070

5,300

Vermont

–

$53,450

2,690

Virginia

–

$60,180

23,640

Washington

–

$60,600

14,210

West Virginia

–

$44,350

4,430

Wisconsin

–

$54,470

16,930

Wyoming

–

$60,100

1,980

Data courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Work Environment
Teachers work mostly in both public and private schools, while others may be employed in day care programs, individual family services, residential care facilities, local government programs, or educational support services. Teachers can be employed at the elementary school (Kindergarten through 5th grade) level, the middle school (6th through 8th grade level), or the secondary school (9th through 12th grade) level. Teachers can also be in positions for special education and substitution.

Teachers generally work full-time school hours when the students are present. In addition, teachers may spend time before school for meetings, as well as after school or on weekend to prepare lessons and grade assignments. Most teachers work a traditional 10-month school year, before a 2-month vacation for summer recess. Since overall student enrolled is predicted to grow, employment of teachers is expected to grow by an average 17 percent from 2010 to 2020.